Sexual behavior activates the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and Zenk (egr-1) in catecholaminergic neurons of male Japanese quail

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Abstract

We analyzed the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and Zenk (egr-1) in the brain of male quail that were gonadally intact (I) or castrated and treated (CX+T) or not (CX) with testosterone and had been exposed for 60 min either to a sexually mature female (F), or to an empty arena (EA) or were left in their home cage (HC). Alternate sections in the brains collected 90 min after the start of behavioral interactions were stained by immunocytochemistry for the proteins FOS or ZENK alone or in association with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a marker of catecholaminergic neurons. C-fos and Zenk expression was statistically increased in six brain areas of sexually active birds (I+F, CX+T+F) compared with controls (CX+F, CX+T+EA, CX+T+HC), i.e. the preoptic area, bed nucleus striae terminalis, arcopallium, nucleus intercollicularis, periaqueductal gray and the ventral tegmental area. Interestingly, c-fos and Zenk expression was high in the nucleus intercollicularis, a midbrain vocal control nucleus, of I+F and CX+T+F birds that displayed copulatory behavior but emitted few crows but not in the nucleus intercollicularis of CX+T+EA birds that crowed frequently. Increases in c-fos expression were observed in TH-immunoreactive cells in the periaqueductal gray and ventral tegmental area, but not in the substantia nigra, of I+F and CX+T+F birds indicating the activation of dopaminergic neurons during sexual behavior. Together, these data confirm the implication of the steroid-sensitive preoptic area and bed nucleus striae terminalis in the control of copulation and support the notion that dopamine is involved in its control.

Section snippets

Experimental procedures

Experiments described in this paper were carried out on Japanese quail (C. japonica) which were bought from a local breeder (C. Dujardin Farm, Liernu, Belgium) at the age of about 3 weeks. Throughout their life at the breeding colony and in the laboratory, birds were exposed to a photoperiod simulating long days (16 h light and 8 h dark per day) and had food and water available ad libitum. All experimental procedures were in agreement with the Belgian laws on “Protection and Welfare of Animals”

Behavioral results

When presented to a female during the 1 h test preceding kill, males with elevated T levels (I+F and CX+T+F birds) showed the complete male-typical copulatory sequence including neck grabs (NG), mount attempts (MA), mounts (M) and finally cloacal contact movements (CCM) leading to ejaculation (see description in Adkins and Adler, 1972; Hutchison, 1978). Moreover, these males displayed elevated frequencies of strutting, a pre- and post-copulatory display. These behaviors were never observed in

Discussion

The present study demonstrates an intense and reliable increase in the expression of two IEG c-fos and Zenk in the brain of intact male Japanese quail and T-treated castrated males after they engaged in sexual behavior. This increase was quantitatively established in at least six nuclei that appear therefore to be directly or indirectly involved in the expression of copulation: the MPOA (POM), the BSTM, the AM, the ICo, and two of the main dopaminergic areas, the PAG and the VTA. This induction

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the NIMH (MH50388) to G.F.B. and J.B. and grants from the Belgian FRFC (2.4555.01), the French Community of Belgium (ARC 99/04-241), and the University of Liege (Fonds Spéciaux pour la Recherche) to J.B. T.D.C. is a FRIA Grant recipient.

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